Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla. (May 12, 2014) – Extending its legacy of hosting collegiate golf national championships, Mission Inn Resort & Club is ready this week to welcome the 2014 NCAA Division III Women’s Golf Championships to Central Florida and Lake County Florida.
“The history and tradition of college championships being played at Mission Inn is even more special this year, as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of our family’s ownership,” said Bud Beucher, Vice President and General Manager of Mission Inn Resort & Club. “And having the Women’s Division III event also is a reminder of our long-running connection to the NCAA championships.”
In 1997, Mission Inn Resort & Club hosted its first national college golf tournament, the combined NCAA Women’s Division II & III Championships. That first year, Lynn University of Boca Raton, Fla., won both the team and individual titles. Since then, Mission Inn Resort & Club has hosted all three levels of NCAA competition, for both men and women, including the 2001 Women’s Division I Championship, as well as the Men’s Division III Championship in 2005.
Mission Inn Resort & Club has served as a venue for national collegiate finals in 17 of the past 18 years – and in that other year (2013) hosted the NCAA Men’s Division II Southeast Regionals. The resort’s commitment to NCAA golf championships already has been extended through 2018, with the return of the Women’s and Men’s Division III regionals or finals in every year from 2015-2018.
There are 21 teams and six individuals in the field this week that will take on the El Campeón Golf Course. Washington University of St. Louis comes into the tournament ranked No. 1 in the nation, followed by Methodist University of Fayetteville, N.C., at No. 2 and the University of Texas-Tyler at No. 3. Defending champion Mary Hardin-Baylor of Belton, Texas, is ranked No. 7 in the Golfstats rankings.
The championship will consist of both team and individual competition conducted concurrently over 72 holes of play in four days. In the team competition, the low four scores from each team for each day will count in the team’s total score. The Central Florida Sports Commission and Oglethorpe University of Atlanta are serving as the event hosts.
Revered as one of Florida’s finest, El Campeón (The Champion) was designed by George O’Neil of Chicago in 1917 and further enhanced in 1926 by Charles E. Clarke of Scotland. Las Colinas (The Hills), the resort’s second 18-hole layout, was designed by former PGA Tour Player Gary Koch and opened in 1992 to immediate acclaim. Both courses are rated Four Star and recognized as “Best Places to Play” in North America by Golf Digest.
Nestled among the rolling hills of Central Florida’s Lake County, in the town of Howey-in-the-Hills, Mission Inn Resort is just a 35 minute drive northwest of Orlando. While best known for its 36 holes of golf, the Spanish colonial style resort offers 176 graciously appointed guestrooms, suites and villas, three restaurants, two lounges and poolside bar. Amenities include eight tennis courts, trap and skeet shooting range, jogging and bicycling trails, volleyball courts, outdoor pool and hydro-spa, fitness center, Spa Marbella, lakeside nautical center with fishing, powerboats and eco-touring.
For additional information, call Mission Inn Resort & Club at 800-874-9053 or 352-324-3101 or visit the Web site www.missioninnresort.com.
Contact:
Karen Moraghan
Hunter Public Relations – East
(908) 876-5100
kmoraghan@hunter-pr.com
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